Below is the new ad seen at AMPTP.org and soon in print that the Big Media moguls are running. "How ironic that a couple weeks ago the WGA was trying to conquer the moguls by portraying them as divided. Now, as evidenced by the ad, the moguls have never been more united at a time the organizers are hoping to divide and conquer," an AMPTP source tells me. Just one problem: legal sources tell me the ad also exposes potential issues relating to collusion, price-fixing, and anti-trust among the Big Media companies who are supposed to be business competitors. It also once and all establishes that the AMPTP, rather than a supposed umbrella group for 350 production entities as it claims, is really just what I've been saying all along: a handful of moguls who control Hollywood because of infotainment consolidation brought on by the lifting of financial syndications rules -- Peter Chernin of News Corp/Fox, Jeff Zucker of NBC Universal, Les Moonves of CBS Inc, Brad Grey of Paramount Pictures, Barry Meyer of Warner Bros, Harry Sloan of MGM, Michael Lynton of Sony Pictures Entertainment, Bob Iger of Walt Disney Co. So think about it: these 8 guys have most everyone's livelihoods in their hands and all they're doing is boasting about how great their 4th quarters are going to look because of those pesky salaries and productions costs they didn't have to pay. Why, they'll probably get bigger bonuses for perpetuating the strike by walking out of the talks. And maybe -- if they're really really lucky, and their collective plan to overhaul the movie and TV business succeeds -- they'll figure out a way to provide entertainment without those expensive "assets who all go home at night" entirely.
You know what would help with that? Going back to the table. What a load of crock. I hope all the studios fold underneath them as the courts take them for everything they’re worth.
Comment by Caitlin — December 16, 2007 @ 5:59 pm
I think the WGA should point out how interesting it is that about 342 other companies in the AMPTP did not sign this letter of unity.
And I bet they weren’t asked to.
They not only bully writers, they bully their own members.
Comment by Jimmy — December 16, 2007 @ 6:01 pm
Yeah, are they just hoping that everyone’s too stupid to realize they walked away from the negotiations, or what?
*rolls eyes*
Comment by john Brownlow — December 16, 2007 @ 6:11 pm
Anyone else find it kind of odd they felt they had to do this? After weeks of claiming OUR membership was falling apart, they need to publicly announce they aren’t? Who are they trying to convince and what’s the point?
“Methinks…”
Comment by WGA Ed — December 16, 2007 @ 6:12 pm
Oh, and I’ve said this before, but, just how is that ‘fair and just agreement’ supposed to be reached if they aren’t at the table negotiating it?
Comment by WGA Ed — December 16, 2007 @ 6:14 pm
This was a stupid move on their part. It only shows collusion and conspiracy by a those powerful few who speak for and control so many careers with no responsibility to those 342 other companies represented by the AMPTP or the thousands of other people suffering because of their obstinance and pomposity. Who is this ad for?
I agree with “WGA Ed” - “Who are they trying to convince and what’s the point?”
Comment by Larry Vigus — December 16, 2007 @ 6:34 pm
“Common Sense” stated :
“What you call defeatism I call realism. The DVD issue, or the concession thereof, was indeed our strongest card, because it impacted the studios in the one place we were capable of making them feel it: their bottom line. The fact that it achieved us zilch has nothing to do with the value of DVDs as a negotiating tool and EVERYTHING to do with the fact that our negotiators bungled it, pure and simple.
Here’s where we agree: the only way forward is to be proactive. I say the best way to do that is to jettison the issues that for various reasons are absolute losers for us, and make the best deal we can on the one issue that truly matters for us and future generations of writers: new media. You apparently, feel the best way to do this is to follow the failed strategies of the very people who, however well-intentioned they are, got us into this mess in the first place.
I can almost here GWB saying “Stay the course” when I read your post. So let me get this straight. Instead of spending the next four weeks negotiating a deal that will allow us to support our families, we will spend the next four months delivering pencils, filing NLRB complaints whose chances of success are marginal (at best), and trying to get Les Moonves (Les Fucking Moonves!) to cut a side-deal with the writers?
Yeah, that sounds like a winner….”
Common Sense -
Realistically speaking, if the DVD issue was indeed our “ace in the hole” and the WGA’s strongest playing card… then why did we so irresponsibly throw it out? Although I do agree it was foolhardy to sacrifice that issue so readily, I do not believe our leadership was so incompetent that they didn’t have a auxiliary plan. It is quite possible we are seeing this plan B enacted with the saturation bombing of the NLRB complaint, the Letterman deal, jacked AMPTP website, open offer to deal with the studios individually, and the call for DGA to hold off their own negotiations.
The longer the DGA remains mute with the AMPTP, the closer we get to SAG’S concurrent contract expiration. Certainly, the AMPTP wants a deal in place with them (and the WGA) before then. There are other issues to contend with as well. Obviously, the WGA is being very proactive… and it could prove that this is only their opening barrage. Is this the failed strategy you speak of? Only time will tell us that. To prematurely judge the outcome before all the results are in and concede defeat is well… defeatist and silly.
Again, the value of DVD residuals will pale in comparison to the “unknown” potential of the internet and digital media. As we have already witnessed in the music industry, album sales have subsided drastically over the last few years. When you witness artists like J-Lo flooding the airwaves with television commercials prompting their fans to get online and download their new record, you have to admit that the jig is up on CD’s. DVD manufacturers (as well as Blu-Ray and HD DVD) will soon face the same predicament. You can’t fight the emergence of new technology… you can only try and adapt to it. Just ask any one of the old telephone companies or the numerous early countries (the hapless French) that unfortunately succumbed to the German blitzkrieg.
Lastly, it wasn’t the failure of the WGA’s leadership that got us in this current predicament… it was the unwillingness of the AMPTP to offer even the slightest semblance of a fair and respectable deal… by anyone’s standards. You seem to only grasp the now, while I favor protecting our future. Ole George W. advocates “staying the course” to help protect his own legacy. The WGA doesn’t have that luxury. They’re staying the course because it appears to be the only path left untaken. The others were roadblocked. Now, we are fighting to simply co-exist as a prominent member of this industry. To make a bad deal now, could be construed as mass suicide on the writer’s part.
Yeah, that sounds like a real winner…
- Sloop John B
Comment by Sloop John B — December 16, 2007 @ 6:41 pm
Legal must have approved this — these guys don’t do anything before running it by legal. So, to the lawyers out there — why did they sign this when it’s clear evidence of collusion? Anyone remember Sotheby-Christie case –?
Comment by anonrighter — December 16, 2007 @ 6:51 pm
Same Arrogant ass****s.
Same Tired Bull****
Same Pathetic PR Campaign
One Common Goal
Break the Entertainment Unions
*******************************************************
Mo-gul -noun - a bump or mound of hard snow on a ski slope.
Comment by John D. — December 16, 2007 @ 6:54 pm
If the WGA is smart they’ll offer an “interim agreement” to every production company town. All the agreement has to say is the the production company will abide by the terms and condition of the “final” negotiated agreement.
As long as the production companies are guaranteed that they won’t be rendered uncompetitive by getting stuck with a deal that’s worse than anybody else, there would be scores (maybe hundreds) of companies willing to sign up today.
Let the “Big 8″ sit on the sidelines and stew for a while everybody else gets back in the game.
Comment by ideaman — December 16, 2007 @ 6:56 pm
Nikki,
The moguls are putting on a smug front but are running scared. They won’t say it right now because that’s the game…but their parent company masters know the truth.
Media Daily News reported on December 12 that General Electric CEO Jeff Immelt told investors on Tuesday that he is cutting profit projections for NBCU for the fourth quarter, citing the “impact of the strike.”
This is the real news!
Comment by Writer/Producer — December 16, 2007 @ 6:58 pm
I couldn’t seem to find Lionsgate, The Weinstein Company, Gaumont, 2929 Productions/Magnolia Films, United Artists or the Yari Film Group listed on that list of mogul signatures. Are they not part of the popular crowd too?
Who wants to play “Let’s Make a Deal”?
- Sloop John B
Comment by Sloop John B — December 16, 2007 @ 6:59 pm
HA HA HA HA HA!!! Lehane, this isn’t the Kerry campaign. Different assets, Different Comnpanies, Different strokes…” HA HA HA HA!!! These are multi-billion dollar companies that no one identifies with and no one votes for. You can’t make anyone empathisize with them. Who is this ad written for? Maybe it’s for “writers” lamely trying to change our minds about the strike? Or is it for the general public who could give a shit about the strike except that they are missing Lost? Or maybe it’s for stock holders who are already starting to sell because of the way the over the hill moguls are bungling a simple contract negotiation with one union? Whoever the ad is for — no one’s buying it Lehane.
Comment by writer of wrongs — December 16, 2007 @ 7:02 pm
Eight Jackasses: One common goal: Break the unions.
Good luck. You really need to buck up and get some real PR people in. Your PR campaign is pathetic. We writers are cringing at how bad it is. Maybe you can hire a writer….oh… right…well then maybe a couple of more spin doctors because the ones you have now just aren’t cutting it. It’s actually sad.
Comment by RJDocky — December 16, 2007 @ 7:04 pm
So if thats not a “cartel” what is it?
Comment by disgusted — December 16, 2007 @ 7:04 pm
Nikki, you keep repeating Moguls or producers as if any of them would ever come down off their golden toilets…
Who are the weasels in the room for the AMPTP? A bunch of high priced lawyers who have never PRODUCED anything! Right? Seriously, who are they?
Please name the list of union busting lawyers in that room. (And how much money do they make anyway - they are getting paid to NOT work!)
They shouldn’t get to be called producers at all. Evah.
Comment by Who are the Weasels? — December 16, 2007 @ 7:16 pm
How’re they gonna reach that goal without sitting at the negotiating table?
Hard to reach an agreement (”just” or otherwise) when you refuse to sit in a room and bargain towards same.
Patrick Meighan
Culver City, CA
Comment by Patrick Meighan — December 16, 2007 @ 7:18 pm
Flaccid italic font does not convey strength.
Gave me a headache just looking at it.
They obviously don’t understand the ’show’ part of ’show business’.
Douchewipes.
Comment by fussy Protocol Droid — December 16, 2007 @ 7:58 pm
everyone seems to be all over this one. yeah we may be seeking division BUT IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE DEALS AND GET PEOPLE BACK TO WORK. We’re not trying to create divsions, LIKE THE AMPTP IN ORDER TO BREAK PEOPLE’S spirits, to hurt them writers and below the liners alike so they’ll turn on writers. The amptp is f-ing DISGUSTING.
Comment by polonix — December 16, 2007 @ 7:59 pm
Sounds more like a pledge, much like the “Pencils Down” ads.
They’re forcing the weaker players like CBS and MGM to publicly state their allegiances, so it’ll make it harder for them to break free of the cartel when the pain starts to increase.
Comment by amptp watcher — December 16, 2007 @ 8:07 pm
Their ad feels like a request for investigation from the SEC for collusion and anti-trust violations.
Comment by ReelBusy — December 16, 2007 @ 8:18 pm
These eight people just pleaded guilty to every charge that Nikki pointed out and more. Hope to see you in jail soon, Peter, Bob, Brad, Michael, Barry, Leslie, Harry, and Jeff.
Comment by Jessy S. — December 16, 2007 @ 8:19 pm
Time for the antitrust division of the Justice Department to look into this. Especially if, as Nikki said recently, Brad Gray at Paramount (Viacom) isn’t allowed to do anything that Les Moonves (the CEO of a COMPLETELY SEPARATE COMPANY) doesn’t approve of. Just because Sumner Redstone controls both doesn’t mean that they both don’t owe a fiduciary duty to their shareholders first and foremost. This could get ugly — look for the feds to get involved sooner rather than later. I know that I, for one, intend to file a formal “request for investigaton” on Monday.
Comment by No man is above the law — December 16, 2007 @ 8:27 pm
Re that ad: Methinks the AMPTP doth protesteth too much.
Comment by Willaim S. — December 16, 2007 @ 8:28 pm
I don’t get it. Who exactly are they lying to? They can’t think anyone on either side believes this, can they?
Comment by Archie Berman — December 16, 2007 @ 8:47 pm
I can’t believe it! Why didn’t anyone tell me? The AMPTP just wants a just and fair deal? Well I AM glad I was finally informed. Sorry Mr. Strike Captain, I won’t be walking tomorrow. I’ve learned that the AMPTP offer of $250 for a year of streaming is fair AND just. All this time, I’ve been misled. And I’ve learned that free streaming of theatrical movies with ads is fair AND just (AND promotion!) All this time I’ve been lied to. And I’ve learned that the guild’s elected leaders aren’t really leaders, they’re ORGANIZERS! Oh, tha horrah! I feel like a light has been turned on, all by one little ad. Ain’t media great?
Comment by Scott Kraft — December 16, 2007 @ 8:56 pm
Thank You AMPTP for enlightening us. Can you finally frigging sign the deal on the table? Just to remind you all how little it will cost…
*For Sony, this entire deal would cost $1.68 million per year.
*For Disney it would cost $6.25 million per year.
*Paramount and CBS would each pay only $4.66 million per year.
*Warners would pay about about $11.2 million per year.
*Fox would pay about $6.04 million per year.
*NBC/Universal would pay $7.44 million per year.
*MGM would pay only $320,000 per year.
*All the other companies would assume the remaining cost of about $8.3 million per year.
http://www.wga.org/subpage_member.aspx?id=2628
Comment by Frustrated Bystander — December 16, 2007 @ 9:03 pm
Oh! Your goal is to reach a fair and just agreement and get back to work? Fucking A! That’s great. It’s really good to hear that because, you know, we kinda got the impression it wasn’t. You know, since all you’ve been doing is issuing ultimatums and storming away.
Well, obviously that was all just some silly little misunderstanding. So we’ll be seeing you at the negotiating table on Monday morning, right?
Right?
Err, guys?
Comment by Occasional Showrunner — December 16, 2007 @ 9:11 pm
The “Super 8″ have all along been saying “they are united” why do they have to say it again. Sounds to me as if AMPTP are rattled a bit why else would they put out an ad saying as a group of eight they are “more in love” with each other than ever before. Personally I think they need a new ad campaign, this one seems to be a bust.
Comment by WGA Supporter — December 16, 2007 @ 9:16 pm
See you in court douchebags….Nice work, Fabiani and Lehane. You must be dying for an easy gig like a tobacco company, huh? May you all get cancer…
Comment by Browser — December 16, 2007 @ 9:40 pm
Uh, how much exactly are you kids paying those PR guys? It’s a bit too much.
Comment by DA in LA — December 16, 2007 @ 9:41 pm
“Just because Sumner Redstone controls both doesn’t mean that they both don’t owe a fiduciary duty to their shareholders first and foremost.”
Since National Amusements is the majority shareholder, their fiduciary duty IS TO Sumner Redstone.
When the laws allow media consolidation that outrageous, that is the result.
Comment by Sumner Sucks — December 16, 2007 @ 9:44 pm
Oh, how very ironic indeed, AMPTP source. Now, as evidenced by an ad whose sole reason for existence was to enable you to say the moguls have never been more united, you confide in Nikki that the ad is proof that the moguls have never been more united. Of course! And new and improved Tide is new and improved! Checkmate! You win!
Lehane, you slay me. Oh, and how come you’re not in Iowa or New Hampshire these days?
Comment by grimes — December 16, 2007 @ 9:49 pm
Lehane and Fabiani did at least two drafts of the ad. I know because I saw the first ad and it said this:
Different Assets….
Differest Businesses…
Different Companies…
One Common Goal.
To Not Return To The Bargaining Table And Negotiate Fairly With The Writers In Hopes Of Crushing The Union.
Comment by unitedwesit — December 16, 2007 @ 10:19 pm
Divide and conquer.
Offer the first company which agrees to EVERY ONE of our position points a six month or one year window during which we UTTERLY refuse to close a deal with any company that doesn’t agree to each of our positions, plus 5% per month for the hold outs.
A smart mogul would realize he could have new product during a period when his competitors are precluded from doing the same.
That will crack them open. They’re greedy bastards. One will sellout at the right price.
Comment by anotherWGAmemberer — December 16, 2007 @ 10:40 pm
“Just one problem: legal sources tell me the ad also exposes potential issues relating to collusion, price-fixing, and anti-trust among the Big Media companies who are supposed to be business competitors.”
D’OH!!!!!!
Comment by Anonymous — December 16, 2007 @ 10:49 pm
One more strategy the WGA can pursue (if it has time):
organize a protest/movement/campaign to represent the disguntled fans of many TV shows who cannot watch their favorite shows but still paying the same cable bill every month.
Maybe a boycott of cable TV/internet is needed. This would throw a serious monkey wrench into the mix, causing the execs to straighten up their act. Especially when the advertising revenues start drying up.
Maybe a movie boycott is needed altogether. I for one decline to support the studios right now and have cut back on my moviegoing by 90% (with the exception of the clear ‘Best Picture’ Oscar contenders.) MY life is better for it as well because I am reading the Classics and sort of dropping away from reaches of Big Business.
Comment by Starvin' marvin — December 16, 2007 @ 10:50 pm
Ouch. I’ve been called a shill like 30 times on this board and haven’t been embarrassed or offended by it.
But I am embarrassed and offended by this ad. I can’t even begin to fathom what it is trying to accomplish or what troglodyte would buy into it or whom it is trying to reach. The demo for this ad will reach exactly 8 people.
Are they just trying to bait writers?
Comment by Confused Shill — December 16, 2007 @ 11:22 pm
You have to admit, as much as all of this is devastating and sad it is all truly an amazing and educational process. Living in the middle of this helps me understand so much more about how big business, Capitol Hill and America operates. Media blackouts, out-and-out lies, PR, he-said-she said, spin. Even just looking at this list of comments you can see the the shills get Sunday off.
What’s sad is that the dollar amounts and shares are not even about money to the “Big 8,” they’re just points in a game and whoever gets the highest score gets their name on a list in a fancy magazine — Hooray!
Look at the ENRON documentary again, the employees were high-five-ing everyone as they were wiping out families. This is who we’re dealing with — This is why we need to stay strong.
Comment by staying'strong — December 16, 2007 @ 11:32 pm
What is this supposed to be? A public relations campaign or a guilty plea to collusion charges?
Unfortunately, although it shows clear signs of anti-competitive collusion, that doesn’t mean anything in court as long as the Justice Department is controlled by an administration that’s at least as aggressively anti-union as the AMPTP moguls. But watch out when the next administration moves in — then we might start seeing “perp walks” for the signatories to this pointless ad.
Comment by Steve S — December 17, 2007 @ 5:34 am
Can anyone in the Godforsaken U.S. Justice Department go look up United States v. Paramount Pictures, Inc., 334 U.S. 131 (1948) and DO something with it??
Comment by Nat Segaloff — December 17, 2007 @ 5:34 am
*NBC/Universal would pay $7.44 million per year.
So it would cost NBC/Universal pretty much the earnings of one airing of a new Heroes episode at their current ad rate?
I don’t get it. Corporate greed can’t explain wasting money over peanuts. If I was a shareholder I would be getting the pitchforks out.
Comment by Anonymous — December 17, 2007 @ 8:13 am
For those interested in a little history - according to this WSJ article - during the 1988 strike, the WGA negotiated separate deals with 100 companies - including the then mega hit Cosby. So, yeah - when the AMPTP says our leadership is desperate - I know it’s just because they can’t spell smart.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119785198066332667.html?mod=hpp_us_whats_news
Comment by WGA writer — December 17, 2007 @ 8:18 am
You guys are so cute when you’re being all naive. Antitrust investigations and Senate hearings? Sounds like a cute movie, but it doesn’t have anything to do with real life, kids.
Comment by lol — December 17, 2007 @ 8:43 am
“Mo-gul -noun - a bump or mound of hard snow on a ski slope.
Comment by John D. — December 16, 2007 @ 6:54 pm ”
John D., quit it, you are giving the Lettermen writers ideas. Not that I wouldn’t like to see Johnny Mosley ski down Moonves hill.
Comment by Jessy S. — December 17, 2007 @ 8:56 am
Okay, so, again… why are 8 “moguls” who are supposedly competitors allowed to collective bargain with thousands of writers?
And why don’t we just make interim deals with everyone BUT the big 8?
Comment by again, I don't get it... — December 17, 2007 @ 9:31 am
Frankly, if it weren’t signed by these 8 big gremlins, this would be a great ad for the WGA.
Someone really didn’t think this through. When they come back to the table, the WGA’s negotiators should bring this enlarged and post it on any wall so they can see it while they storm out again for a third time.
whoever though this was a good ad is either delusional or working for the opposite side.
Comment by skyfleur — December 17, 2007 @ 9:47 am
“if the DVD issue was indeed our “ace in the hole” and the WGA’s strongest playing card… then why did we so irresponsibly throw it out?”
We offered to take DVD off the table because the AMPTP said they’d negotiate — and then they didn’t. There’s no rule that says we can’t put it back on. Personally, I feel like DVDs are history already and we might as well ask for a cut of future wax cylinder sales too.
Comment by Jennifer — December 17, 2007 @ 10:21 am
Please. Those guys weren’t even in their offices this week to approve that ad. They’re all on jets to spend their holidays in Aspen. Rest up, fellas! You’ll need plenty of energy in January to remind below the line folks how much writers are costing them while you won’t go back to the table. The companies have demonstrated they’re willing to spend more prolonging the strike than it would cost them to pay what writers are asking for over the next 3 years.
Comment by WGAGal — December 17, 2007 @ 11:08 am
I don’t live in the US, so I probably couldn’t care less about the strike, except that I do, and so I find myself reading Deadline Hollywood, United Hollywood and AMPTP.org everyday. And I only got to one conclusion, if this wasn’t such a serious matter affecting so many families, what both sides are doing would be hilarious. But since while the WGA and the AMPTP keep throwing the ball to one another, there are people being hurt by the minute, I can only describe their speeches as pathetic and shameful.
I particularly find the AMPTP the most difficult to believe. The WGA could make certain things a little different, but still I give them a little credit considering the other side.
This ad… if they want to reach a fair and just agreement then why aren’t they negotiating? It’s a bit hard to even get closer to an agreement if sides are not talking. So talk. Please. The WGA says they want to go back to work. The AMPTP says they want to go back to work. There you have, one thing in common to start with.
So then I read AMPTP.org and found out some interesting things. But also, I can’t help but wonder. A working writer makes more than a surgeon, more than a family doctor, more than a fire-fighter, a teacher, a policeman AND emergency medical technician altogether. How much does the average CEO make out of the work of other people?
It’s the seventh week of the strike and it is costing writers and IATSE over 320 million dollars. Isn’t that a way larger amount than what it would cost the networks altogether per YEAR to agree to the WGA terms? So if they don’t want people to get hurt, because they care about families so much, why not accept the proposal instead of saying how bad the WGA is for not accepting the ultimatum? It’s faster, easier, cheaper AND makes the AMPTP look better than hiring a high cost PR whatever that seriously, it’s not making the AMPTP any nicer to my eyes than it was a couple of weeks ago.
In AMPTP’s open letter they state: “The working writers themselves have now lost more than $115 million, and these writers are no closer today to getting their fair share of new media revenues than they were when the strike began.” Hey, even the AMPTP says it’s a “fair” share. So why not give it to them?? Maybe I’m not that good at English, for which I apologize but it’s not my first language, but from what I understand in that single sentence, it just makes me wonder why the WGA isn’t any closer… what is the AMPTP doing to get to an agreement?
“We wonder whether the people in charge at the WGA now regret openly bragging in the media that “we are winning this strike,” or appearing before the cameras like “a rock star”. Is anyone from the AMPTP regretting walking out of negotiations?
I’m getting sick of both sides, but I’ll give this to the AMPTP, I’ve never felt so insulted and frustrated when reading or listening to a speech. They must really think people are stupid to believe an ad like that.
Comment by Maria Rodriguez — December 17, 2007 @ 11:36 am
I’m a little confused — if all the little guys get back into production, does that really continue to put the screws to the Big 8? Doesn’t it just create content they can put on the air to recoup viewers and ad revenue?
Comment by Sara — December 17, 2007 @ 12:11 pm
I’m calling the death of the studio system, right now. If the producers break ranks and negotiate directly with the guilds, there is no stopping the blood loss in the upper echelon. Producers can secure financing if they want; thus far, they’ve been too lazy to create new paradigms because it’s been easier to take to an executive and get checks cut. Suck up and cut ties. The studios are not doing producers any favors, and they’re in danger of becoming distribution shells anyway. Time to realize the future is at hand.
Comment by Cappy Anon — December 17, 2007 @ 12:39 pm
“A working writer makes more than a surgeon, more than a family doctor, more than a fire-fighter, a teacher, a policeman AND emergency medical technician altogether. How much does the average CEO make out of the work of other people?” –Maria Rodriguez
The first statement is deceptive, because it counts only working writers. Steady work is scarce in the entertainment industry. If they counted all writers who count on writing as their main income, rather than only the ones who have been paid recently enough to count as “working writers”, the income figure would be a lot lower.
But your second question, about how the writers are paid compared to the executives who are trying to shortchange the creative workers, is a good one. They’re really not the ones who should be shouting out “look how much money you guys are making!”
Comment by Steve S — December 17, 2007 @ 5:32 pm
Very psyched DHD now has comments.
Comment by Mad Professah — December 17, 2007 @ 8:09 pm
Are these guys auditioning to write comedy material for the scab Letterman?
What a crock of shit!
Comment by Sherilyn — December 17, 2007 @ 8:20 pm
To follow up on my earlier comment about anti-trust (5:34 am):
I looked up the statute of limitations on federal anti-trust regulations. As well as I can understand it, the deadline is four or five years, depending on specific details. So while the big-eight corporations are safe for now, they might find themselves in trouble some time after 2009-January-20.
Comment by Steve S — December 17, 2007 @ 10:50 pm